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EC asked to prepare new list of voters

IKRAMUL HAQ

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Lt-Gen Moinuddin Haider (Retd) has said that the election commission has been asked to prepare new list of voters and complete the task by May next year.

In the meantime, the programme for local bodies elections is expected to be announced by the Chief Executive in his March 23 address to the nation he said, adding that already indicated, the process for elections would start by the end of December. The elections would be held in phases. But the minister felt it would be better if the elections are held under the new voters' lists.

He stated that the last elections were held on the basis of the 1981 population census, which meant a whole new generation had come of age for voting. The existing electoral lists contained many fake names, for instance a five marla plot showed as many as 90 voters. That's why if there is some delay in local bodies' elections, it would be better for the country.

The minister was addressing a press conference after signing ceremony of six contracts by the newly appointed National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) with private organisations for carrying out different projects i.e. scanning of National Data Forms of Census, networking of regional and district headquarters for online information, preparation of database warehouse, preparation of National Identity Cards, and their distribution.

The General said that the National Database Organization and Registration Authority has worked out gigantic projects encompassing various sectors of economy and national life which, in the words of Nadra chairman Major General Zahid Ahsan, would be catalyst for change. The data being prepared by the authority would not only eliminate gross irregularities in identity cards, passports, but provide authentic and scientific data for national planning, spread of literacy, medicare, poverty reduction and

above all in national elections.

According to a brochure prepared by Nadra, the principal goal is to develop a sophisticated database management system at national levels for use by authorised government agencies." It aims at modernising the country's governance through conceptual model of data warehousing.

Nadra will be the centralised data repository at national level where data in the form of particulars of citizens will be maintained and periodically updated." It is seen as a major step towards improving governance and devolution of powers to the lowest echelon of administration including police, legislation and judiciary.

Nadra Director-General Major General Zahid Ahsan told the press that new national identity cards would be issued from May this year. In the first instance the cards would be issued to those who had provided information in the census forms. These number nearly 37.5 million. In the beginning, the work may be slow but when in full swing it is proposed to issue one million cards every week.

These will be priced at Rs 15 per card but fresh applicants would pay Rs 35.The ID cards would be delivered at the permanent address given in the census forms.

The Pakistan Origin Card which is introduced by Nadra would entitle the Pakistanis to enjoy benefits and privileges of nationals will be available at $200 for five years period and at $ 300 for ten years, would obviate the need for entry visa for Pakistan. To Pakistanis workforce abroad, this will be given at concessional rate of $25.

The old identity cards will be valid till Dec 31, 2001.

ALIEN REGISTRATION AUTHORITY

The Interior Minister said that the alien registration authority proposed be set up shortly would greatly check the widespread irregularity of easy issuance of Pakistani passports and identity cards through unscrupulous elements.

The minister said that at present many foreigners enter Pakistan through irregularities at the transit lounge at the international airports. It came to the notice of the government, he added, a foreigner could get a Pakistani passport at the airport for Rs 16,000 and national identity card for Rs 5,000 and easily gets entry in the country. Because of this, Pakistan is regarded a soft state and many terrorists too move into the country.

He was sure that with the introduction of the new identity cards which would have several invisible security features and could not be tampered with, would check the menace of fake passports and identity cards. According to him there were between 1.5 million to 2 million foreigners living in Karachi alone on fake Pakistani passports.

According to him the new law rather ordinance for the authority would be enforced shortly. Under it, he added, the foreigners would have to pay some sort of fee for working in Pakistan.